Abstract:

The following are typical communities in the secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests in the Dongling Mountain area: Quercus wutaishanica forest (QWF), Betula dahurica forest (BDF), Juglans mandshurica forest (JMF) and mixed forest (MF). Comprehensive research on species composition and community structure of these four forest types will contribute to a more thorough knowledge of the successional dynamics and ecological functions in warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forests. Following the field protocol of the 50-ha plot on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, one 1-ha plot was established in each of these forest types in Dongling Mountain in 2009. In these plots, all free-standing trees >1 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH, 1.3 m above ground) were mapped, tagged, and identified to species. As for species composition, there were 22 species, belonging to 20 genera and 20 families in the QWF plot; 22 species, belonging to 18 genera and 16 families in the BDF plot; 30 species, belonging to 23 genera and 21 families in the JMF plot; and 19 species, belonging to 15 genera and 14 families in the MF plot. Data on species abundance, mean DBH, basal area and importance value indicated that the dominant species were obvious within each community. The size-class structure (DBH) of all species in the four plots generally conformed to a reverse “J” distribution, indicating good community regeneration. The size-class structure of a given species varied among plots, suggesting that size-class structure may be related to community type. For example, the size-class structure of Quercus wutaishanica showed a skewed normal distribution in the QWF plot, but a reverse “J” distribution in the BDF plot. The size-class structure of Betula dahurica showed a normal distribution in both the QWF plot and the BDF plot, but differed greatly in the range of DBH’s.

Key words: floristic characteristics, community structure, size class structure, natural secondary forest, Dongling Mountain